The Internet Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild

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Outreach

What is outreach? It is a literal reaching out from our organization to you, the community we serve. We are reaching out to share with you our love of needlepoint in all of its aspects. Since we are an educational non-profit, our outreach will be primarily of an educational nature. We will be sharing techniques, needlepoint stitches, history, art, current events, finishing, and preserving - all things needlepoint.

This webpage is open to all visitors to learn about needlepoint. Our Outreach has two aspects. One is education about needlepoint. This will be done with articles and by introducing you to various techniques, types of stitches, etc. This will include stitching instructions, recommendations on things to do, explanations about different types of needlepoint, etc. Come "Learn Needlepoint with CyberPointers". Below find our current article and links to previous articles.

What is Needlepoint?

Needlepoint is a traditional old embroidery technique worked on canvas. Today, this is called canvaswork. In the past, wool yarn was used almost exclusively to create the stitches, and the Tent Stitch was used almost exclusively to create needlepoint articles. Today, we have a vast array of threads and stitches to choose from to create rich, vibrant works of art. Needlepoint can be used to make framed pictures, pillows, chair seats, 3-Dimensional objects, wearable art such as vests and shoes; basically, anything you want.

Community Service

Another aspect of outreach is doing good works with our needlepoint talents and skills. Please check out the Community Service Outreach page for further information.

References for Metallics
Karen Anthony

Listed below are the types and brands from some of the most common "providers" of metallic type threads.

1. Rainbow Gallery (www.rainbowgallery.com)
   1. Twists/Braids
      1. Coronet Braid - #4, #8, #16
      2. Crystal Braid (#12)
      3. Sparkle Braid (4 ply twisted)
      4. Tiara (twist)
      5. Treasure Braid (#4, #8, #16)
      6. Treasure Braid Petite (3 ply braided)
   2. Ribbons
      1. Fyre Werks
      2. Petite Sparkle Rays
      3. Sparkle Rays
      4. Treasure Ribbon
      5. Petite Treasure Ribbon
      6. Water N’ Ice (loosely braided ribbon)
   3. Chainette
      1. Alabaster
      2. Cresta d’Oro
      3. Gold Rush
      4. Nordic Gold
      5. Ribbon Rays
      6. Treasure Chest
      7. Winter
   4. Hybrids (metallic "filament" mixed with other fibers)
      1. Hi-Lights (Floss combined with filament)
      2. Neon Rays Plus (ribbon w/ combination of rayon & metallic strands)
      3. Frosty Rays
      4. Petite Frosty Rays
2. Kreinik (www.kreinik.com)
   1. Threads
      1. Blending Filament
      2. Japan Threads
   2. Twists/Braids
      1. Kreinik #4, #8, #12, #16, #32 braid
      2. Cord 1 ply, #4, #8, #12, #16 braid
      3. Japan threads #4, #8, #12, #16 braid
      4. Cable – 3 ply twist
      5. Ombre – 8 ply soft twist
   3. Ribbons
      1. Kreinik 1/8" & 1/16"ribbon
      2. Cord 1/8” & 1/16” ribbon
      3. Japan threads 1/8" & 1/16" ribbon
3. Caron Collection (www.caron-net.com)
   1. Braids
      1. Snow
   2. Chainettes
      1. Antica (little thicker than #5 perle cotton)
   3. Hybrid (metallic "filament" mixed with other fiber)
      1. Rachelette (Rachel (nylon) w/ metallic threaded through)
4. DMC (www.dmc-usa.com)
   1. Threads/floss

For metallic sewing thread, the common manufacturers are Sulky, Guttermann, Madeira and YLI.

Most of the manufacturers listed above have detailed descriptions of their products on their websites and tips/hints about uses for them. Most of them also discuss how to care for their metallics, how to care for needlework that has used their metallics and where you can find their products. Examples are as follows:

1. Kreinik has an entire section of their website that is dedicated to education topics. This section is found at the bottom of their home page. There is also a handy reference that describes their entire line of metallic threads, uses and recommended lengths (http://www.kreinik.com/articles/metallic_guide.htm), this also includes a color chart for each of the threads. Some other articles of interest are:
   1. Texture in Kreinik Metallic Threads – basic, hi luster, glow-in-the-dark and vintage
   2. History of Real Metal ∓ Metallic Thread Embroidery
   3. Blending Filament threading technique (also good for cable, cord, ombre & Japan threads)
   4. History of Japan threads
   5. Needle selection
   6. Conversion Charts
      1. Glissen Gloss Rainbow Blending thread to Kreinik blending filament
      2. DMC light effects to Kreinik
2. Rainbow Gallery has a great section called "Jay’s Stitching Tips for Rainbow Gallery Fibers" (www.rainbowgallery.com/JaysTips.html#18). Jay discusses each of the fibers in the entire Rainbow Gallery line, gives recommendations for uses, and recommended lengths to be used for stitching. This is a very handy reference to keep. Color cards and free designs are also available on-line at their website.
3. DMC has a great section discussing their Light Effects metallic threads. This includes descriptions of each of the threads, color cards, recommendations for use and care and free designs using their threads.

The above products are fairly accessible from a local needlework shop (LNS), an on-line shop like Nordic Needle (http://www.nordicneedle.com) or shops like Michael’s, Hobby Lobby or Jo-Ann’s Fabrics.

Articles Index

• History of Canvaswork in America
• Textile Museum